New Year’s Eve has always held a prominent place in my imagination. Blame it on books and movies, but it’s hard not to romanticize it. I love how it’s one night wrapped up in gratitude, reflection, excitement, and celebration. I love how it feels like a catalyst for change. It’s kind of magical.
Since I’m a beauty editor, I like to observe New Year’s Eve in the best way I know how—by styling my hair with chic hair accessories, getting a shimmery manicure, and wearing my most angelic perfume. As for the latter, there’s no better time to break out a fresh, new fragrance than on NYE. It’s an underrated way to ensure the most memorable night.
Luckily for us, Sephora is having a pretty epic perfume sale right now. Through December 24, you can get 20% off full-size fragrances as a Beauty Insider, using the code FRAGRANCE20 at checkout. Personally, I’m scoping out 11 on-sale scents for my NYE celebration. Keep scrolling to see each, angelic one.
KAYALI
Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81 Eau De Parfum Intense
Fragrance notes: Strawberry, pink marshmallow, whipped vanilla
A true gourmand scent, this perfume combines fruity notes of strawberry and coconut, sugary notes of pink marshmallow and whipped vanilla, and a floral note of freesia. Described as “boujee,” it’s a sweet, expensive-smelling scent that reminds me of dropping a juicy strawberry into a bubbling champagne flute.
Fragrance notes: Lavender, orange blossom, musk accord
If your vibe is “quiet luxury,” I recommend YSL’s Libre Eau de Parfum. With a unique combination of notes—including lavender, orange blossom, and musk accord—it’s a not-so-average designer fragrance that will make people lean in.
TOM FORD
Lost Cherry Eau De Parfum
Fragrance notes: Black cherry, tonka bean, almond
Tom Ford’s Lost Cherry Eau de Parfum isn’t any old fruit-forward scent. There’s a candy-like element from the black cherry, a rich and warm element from liqueur, and a floral element thanks to Turkish rose and jasmine sambac. The brand says it “attains fantasy-like levels of insatiability.” I love that.
PHLUR
Vanilla Skin Eau De Parfum
Fragrance notes: Sugar crystals, cashmere wood, vanilla
I wax poetic about Phlur fragrances because they’re some of the most unique and alluring perfumes on the market (at least, in my humble opinion). This one, called Vanilla Skin, is no exception. Sweet, soft, and subtle, it’s a your-skin-but-better scent.
Dolce&Gabbana
Dolce Violet Eau De Toilette
Fragrance notes: Blackcurrant, violet, and Madagascar vanilla
I can’t think of a better time than NYE to wear this dark, yet vibrant fragrance. With rich blackcurrant, bold violet, and creamy Madagascar vanilla, it gives off major “main character” vibes. Who doesn’t want to feel like the main character on NYE?
YSL
Black Opium Eau De Parfum
Fragrance notes: Black coffee, white flowers, vanilla
YSL’s Black Opium Eau de Parfum is one of the most seductive and sophisticated scents I know. The note of rich black coffee mingles with soft, white flowers and creamy vanilla. It makes for the most alluring NYE scent.
TOM FORD
Vanilla Sex Eau De Parfum
Fragrance notes: Vanilla tincture, vanilla absolute, sandalwood
If you love classic vanilla perfumes, I can’t recommend Tom Ford’s Vanilla Sex Eau de Parfum enough. Tom Ford perfumes are expensive, and seeing as this is one of my favorite fragrances, I’m stocking up on another bottle while it’s 20% off. (The dip from $405 to $324 is dramatic).
It contains two types of creamy, warm vanilla notes, plus soft sandalwood and milky tonka bean. I’ve never met a single person who doesn’t like this scent, and actually, whenever I wear it, I get compliments. Last time I wore it, my boyfriend kept repeating, “You smell so good.” I’d wear this for a cozy NYE vibe.
YSL
Mon Paris Eau De Parfum
Fragrance notes: Datura flower, patchouli, red berries
As I said before, I tend to romanticize NYE, and there’s no better perfume to wear while doing that than this one. YSL’s Mon Paris Eau de Parfum is soft, floral, and slightly fruity. It makes me feel like I’m galavanting around the City of Light and Love at the stroke of midnight.
Merit
Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum
Fragrance notes: Bergamot, jasmine, musk
Merit’s new scent—Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum—was inspired by both modern and vintage references. The scent itself has classic notes of bergamot, jasmine, rose, violet, and musk, whereas the bottle was inspired by modernist jewelry. It’s an oxymoron, both timeless and contemporary, kind of like NYE itself.
Valentino
Donna Born in Roma Eau De Parfum
Fragrance notes: Blackcurrant, jasmine grandiflorum, bourbon vanilla
This perfume was inspired by Roman street style and features the edgy Valentino spike design. Because of this, I thought it would smell fresh, zesty, and modern, but I was wrong. It’s surprisingly classic, warm, and sophisticated, thanks to the combination of blackcurrant, jasmine grandiflorum, and bourbon vanilla. It’s as timeless as the Eternal City it was inspired by.
KILIAN Paris
Love, Don’t Be Shy
Fragrance notes: Orange blossom, vanilla absolute, luscious marshmallow
Fun fact: Rihanna once confirmed in an Instagram post that she wears this editor-favorite Killian perfume. If a fragrance can give me Rihanna energy on NYE, I’ll gladly wear it. With notes of orange blossom, vanilla absolute, and marshmallow, it’s a divine and delectable scent that’s sure to earn compliments.
